frank barry

It's 2010. Most people are thinking about how 2009 went and how they want 2010 to play out.

For better or worse, I've never been the type to write down my goals at the beginning of each new year. I'm not sure why, but this practice hasn't stuck for me. I've always got things I want to do and things I want to accomplish, but they never make their way to a formal list that I review and check off at the end of each year. Call me crazy.

This year might be different for me.

I like how Chris Brogan has 3 Words for 2010. Why? In the words of Mr. Brogan "these words are like a lighthouse that helps a ship in a storm." This method forces you to think on a higher (or maybe different) level. The words are meant to guide everything you do. This isn't to say that alternative method is inferior. What matters is finding a system or method that works for you. This one seems to be sinking in for me.

Getting Started

@jnswanson has some great questions to consider while thinking about your 2010 plans. These questions helped me formalize my three words.

1. What do I want to finish?
2. What do I want to change?
3. What do I want to maintain? (Sometimes you are actually doing fine about some things).
4. What do I want to refine?
5. What do I want to stop doing?
6. What do I need to do, though wanting has nothing to do with it?
7. What can I finally throw away?
8. What do I want to go back to?

Going Deeper

I recently watched The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It reminded me to think about goals that have meaning and purpose beyond my professional ambitions. Goals that extend into my personal life.

Food for Thought

While you're thinking about where you're headed in 2010 take some time to check out these posts from a few friends of mine. They might inspire you or help you pinpoint something you've been thinking about for a while now.

Professional Goals for a Social Media Strategist by Debra Askanase
My 2010 Goals for Selfishgiving.com by Joe Waters
My 3 Words for 2010 by Chris Garrett
3 Words for 2010 by Chris Brogan

My three words

1. Concerts - Think about what it takes to build the Boston Symphony Orchestra or what it took for the Dolphins to win the Superbowl and go undefeated in 1979 (that's a concert of sorts, right?).
2. Offenses - Think about the Championship Bulls from Michael Jordan's day or maybe think about Google or Mac.
3. Monks - Think about their commitment to something greater, their humility and their purity.

I'll have more on these soon. In the mean time, what are your 2010 plans? Please do share.

Photo by john curley

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